Biometric interface system and method

ABSTRACT

A system includes a wearable device having at least one sensor configured to determine a user&#39;s fingerprint data, at least one data storage device containing authentication data, and at least one processor configured to compare the user&#39;s fingerprint data with the authentication data in order to authenticate a user. A method of authenticating a wearable device includes producing a fingerprint, determining fingerprint data derived from the fingerprint with one or more sensors, comparing the fingerprint data with authentication data on one or more data storage devices, and authenticating the user if the fingerprint data and the authentication data match.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application62/328,915, filed on Apr. 28, 2016, and entitled Biometric InterfaceSystem and Method, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wearable devices especially earpieces.More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates toauthentication of such devices.

BACKGROUND

Data authentication for wearable devices remains a challenge. Thelimited size of most wearable devices makes it difficult to design asound and effective data authentication system that is also userfriendly. One possible method to overcome this relates to the use offingerprint analysis.

SUMMARY

It is a primary object, feature, or advantage to improve over the stateof the art.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage to use fingerprintanalysis to provide data authentication for wearable devices includingearpieces.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage to provide forfingerprint analysis and verification using a contact surface of anearpiece wearable.

It is another object, feature, or advantage to use ultrasound, infrared,or radar sensor units to determine a fingerprint analysis on the surfaceof the device and in performing the analysis to use data stored on thedevice or stored elsewhere.

It is a further object, feature, or advantage to allow for access toprogramming on a device or access to remote programming provided througha device to only be accessible once a verification of identity isprovided.

It is a still further object, feature, or advantage to allow forcoordination of fingerprint identification with other biometric identitycriteria.

Another object, feature, or advantage is to allow for storage offingerprints in an isolated segment of the device away from capturabledata.

Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to allow for biometric datato be stored in the cloud for remove verification of user identity.

A further object, feature, or advantage is to allow for a splitverification scheme for user identity so that neither the cloud nor thedevice alone verify, only the combination of the two can be used toidentify a user.

One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the specification andclaims that follow. No single embodiment need provide each and everyobject, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have differentobjects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention isnot to be limited to or by an object, feature, or advantage statedherein.

According to another aspect, an earpiece is provided. The earpieceincludes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece,and a fingerprint sensor operatively connected to the processor. Theprocessor is configured to receive fingerprint data from the fingerprintsensor and compare the fingerprint data to stored fingerprint dataand/or to provide authentication of a user of the earpiece.

According to another aspect, an earpiece wearable includes an earpiecehousing, at least, one speaker, at least one microphone, a processordisposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the atleast one speaker and the at least one microphone, and a sensoroperatively connected to the processor. The processor is configured toreceive fingerprint data from the sensor at a contact surface on theearpiece housing and analyze the fingerprint data using storedfingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision basedon the fingerprint data. The earpiece may further include a data storagedevice disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connectedto the processor, wherein the stored fingerprint authentication data isstored within the data storage device. The earpiece may further includea radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing and operativelyconnected to the processor, wherein the stored fingerprintauthentication data is stored at a remote location and accessible over anetwork through the radio transceiver. The earpiece may include both adata storage device disposed within the ear piece housing andoperatively connected to the processor, wherein a first portion of thestored fingerprint authentication data is stored within the data storagedevice and a radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing andoperatively connected to the processor, wherein a second portion of thestored fingerprint authentication data is stored at a remote locationand accessible aver a network through the radio transceiver. Both thefirst portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data and thesecond portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data may beneeded by the processor to make the authentication decision based on thefingerprint data. The earpiece may further include a gesture controlinterface operatively connected to the processor, wherein the gesturecontrol interface is configured to receive gestures. The sensor may bean optical sensor and the optical sensor may be used by the gesturecontrol interface to receive the gestures and to sense the fingerprintdata. The sensor may be an Ultrasound sensor, radar sensor or other typeof sensor. The processor may be further configured to process audio datafrom the at least one microphone and wherein the authentication decisionis based on the fingerprint data and the audio data. The processor mayalso be further configured to process pulse oximetry data from a pulseoximeter disposed within the housing and operatively connected to theprocessor and the authentication decision may be based on thefingerprint data and the pulse oximetry data.

According to another aspect, a method is provided for authenticating ofa user of an earpiece having an earpiece housing, at least one speaker,at least one microphone, a processor disposed within the earpiecehousing and operatively connected to the at least one speaker and the atleast one microphone, and a sensor operatively connected to theprocessor. The method includes acquiring fingerprint data using thesensor from a finger of a user contacting a fingerprint contact area onthe earpiece housing, and analyzing the fingerprint data using storedfingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision basedon the fingerprint data. The stored fingerprint authentication data maybe stored within the data storage device. The earpiece may furtherinclude a radio transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing andoperatively connected to the processor, and the method may includeaccessing the stored fingerprint authentication data from a remotelocation over a network and through the radio transceiver. The methodmay further provide for accessing a first portion of the storedfingerprint authentication from the data storage device and accessing asecond portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data from aremote location over a network and through the radio transceiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a system including an earpiecewearable with a fingerprint sensor used for authentication.

FIG. 2 is another block diagram illustrating an earpiece wearable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A wearable device and related systems and methods are shown which allowfor the authentication of a user's identity using fingerprint data aloneand/or in combination with additional biometric data. FIG. 1 illustratesa wearable device or system which 10 includes a first earpiece 10A withan earpiece housing 12B and a second earpiece 10B with an earpiecehousing 10B. A fingerprint contact area 13A is shown for the firstearpiece 10A and a fingerprint contact area 131 is shown for the secondearpiece 10B. When a finger of a user is presented at one of the fingercontact areas 13A, 13B, fingerprint data is acquired which may then beused to perform authentication of a user. One or more sensors areassociated with each fingerprint contact area 13A, 13B. Such sensors mayalso be used for other purposes as well.

To perform authentication, the fingerprint data obtained from a user atthe one or more finger contact areas 13A, 13B, may be compared with datastored within the first earpiece 10A or the second earpiece 10B. Thedata may be stored in an isolated segment of the device away fromcapturable data to enhance security. The data may be encrypted toenhance security. Alternatively, the fingerprint data may be comparedwith data stored on another device such as a mobile device 11, or datastored remotely such as in a database 17 in operative communication witha server platform 15 which may be accessible through network 19 such asthe Internet. Fingerprint data or other authentication data may bestored either at the wearable device(s) 10, a mobile device 11, at aremote database 17, or at a combination of locations. For example, aportion of the authentication data may be stored at the wearable device10A, 10B and another portion of the authentication data may be stored atthe mobile device 11 or the remote database 17 in order to provideadditional security. In this type of split verification scheme for useridentity neither the cloud nor the device alone can provideverification, instead only a combination of the two would allow forverification or authentication of a user. Once authentication occurs allor portions of device operations or programming may become accessible toa user.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wearable device such as an earpiece 10 with an earpiece housing 12. A plurality of sensors 14 are operatively connected toone or more processors 18. The sensors 14 may include an ultrasoundsensor 34, an infrared sensor 36, a radar sensor unit 38, or other typesof sensors. In addition, one or more microphones 20 may be present. Themicrophones 20 may include one or more bone microphones and/or one ormore air conduction microphones. One or more speakers 24 are alsopresent and are operatively connected to the processor(s) 18. A datastorage device 16 may also be operatively connected to the processor(s)18 and may be used for storing fingerprint data or other biometric datawhich is used as a part of an authentication processor. A gesturecontrol interface 22 may also be operatively connected to theprocessor(s) 18. The gesture control interface 22 may include one ormore emitters 42 and detectors 44. For example, the gesture controlinterface 22 may include optical emitters and detectors which are usedto determine gestures made by a user of the earpiece. Thus, for example,the user may tap the earpiece, with a single tap or multiple taps, swipeacross the ear piece, or tap and hold their finger at a surface of theearpiece. The same fingerprint contact area may be used for receivinggestures as well as for reading a fingerprint of a user. The samesensors such as optical emitters and detectors may be used to sensegestures as well as to sense fingerprints.

Instead of using the emitters 42 and detectors 44 of the gesture controlinterface 22, fingerprints may be detected using other types of sensorssuch as the ultrasound sensor 34, the infrared sensor 36, or the radarsensor 38. Each of these sensors may also be used for other purposes aswell in addition to detecting fingerprints.

One or more LEDs 30 may be operatively connected to the processor(s) 18and used for conveying information to a user or others. In addition, oneor more transceivers may be present and operatively connected to theprocessor(s) 18. A first transceiver 26 may be a near field magneticinduction (NFMI) or other type of transceiver. One use of such atransceiver is for communication between wearable devices, such ascommunication between a left earpiece and a right earpiece. A radiotransceiver 28 is also present and operatively connected to theprocessor(s) 18. The radio transceiver 28 may be a Bluetoothtransceiver, Wi-Fi transceiver, or other type of radio transceiver.

Returning to the sensors 14, one or more biometric sensors may bepresent such as a pulse oximeter 35. The pulse oximeter 35 may be usedto measure pulse of a user. It is to be further understood thatcharacteristics of the pulse of a user may be used to furtherauthenticate a user. For example, heart rate variability as determinedusing the pulse oximeter 35 or otherwise may be used to authenticate auser. An inertial sensor 37 is also shown. It is also to be understoodthat the inertial sensor 37 may be used to detect gait of a user orother motion of a user which may be used in authenticating a user. It isto be further understood that voice samples of a user received at one ormore of the microphones 20 may be used to authenticate a user throughvoice analysis. Thus, in addition to fingerprint data other types ofbiometric data may be used to provide for further authentication of auser. Although various types of biometric sensors are shown aredescribed, it is to be understood that other types of biometric sensorsmay be used.

It is to be further understood that additional or secondaryauthentication may be performed in a number of different ways dependingupon the type of wearable device and the sensors present. For example,where voice is used as a type of secondary authentication, adetermination can be made as to whether the voice of the user matchesthe voice of the known user. Alternatively, or in addition, the user maybe asked to provide a passphrase. Similarly, where gestures are used, auser may be asked to input a series of gestures which serves as apassword or passphrase to authenticate the user. Thus, it is to beunderstood that voice detection, heart rate variability, predeterminedvocal passwords, audio playback tonal password selections, or othertypes of authentication may be used in addition to the fingerprintanalysis. It is to be further understood that different levels of accessto data or programming within the earpiece or functionality provided bythe earpiece may be provided with different types of authentication. Itis further to be understood that user verification at an earpiece orother wearable device may be used within a connected environment.

In operation, a fingerprint is sensed with one or more sensors. Forexample, a user may press their finger against a fingerprint contactarea of an earpiece. Sensors such as optical sensors may be used toacquire fingerprint data such as data sufficient to define an image of afingerprint or to describe fingerprint features. Once acquired, thisdata may be compared to other data identifying one or more authorizedusers of the earpiece. Such data may be present within the earpiece suchas in a segregated portion of a memory that is not generally otherwiseaccessible. If the fingerprint data is a match to an authorized userthen the user may be authenticated and provided access to the earpiece,be allowed to modify operational states of the earpiece such as toaccess a particular program or perform particular functions. If not,then the user will not be able to use the earpiece, have limited accessto the earpiece, or be required to otherwise authenticate themselves.The fingerprint authentication may serve as an initial authenticationand additional authentication may be required. In addition, a user maybe required to re-authenticate when performing various functions ifadditional security requirements are associated with those functions.Where the gesture interface is used in providing for the fingerprintsensing, at times when the gesture interface is used to provide agesture, fingerprint data may be collected at that time tore-authenticate a user via fingerprint in the background withoutrequiring any additional activity from the user unless theauthentication process fails.

Therefore, various methods, systems, and apparatus have been shown anddescribed. Although various embodiments have been shown the presentinvention contemplates numerous options, variations, and alternativesincluding variations in the type of wearable device, whetherauthentication occurs on board the wearable device or at a remotelocation, the type of authentication data included such as fingerprint,voiceprint, gesture or gesture sequence, or other type of authenticationdata, plus other options, variations, and alternatives.

What is claimed is:
 1. An earpiece for authenticating users using storedfingerprint authentication data, the earpiece comprising: an earpiecehousing; at least one speaker; at least one microphone; a processordisposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the atleast one speaker and the at least one microphone; a sensor operativelyconnected to the processor; a data storage device disposed within theearpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein afirst portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is stored onthe data storage device; and a radio transceiver disposed within theearpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor, wherein asecond portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data is storedat a remote location and accessible over a network through the radiotransceiver; wherein the processor is configured to receive fingerprintdata from the sensor at a fingerprint contact surface on the earpiecehousing and analyze the fingerprint data using the first portion of thestored fingerprint authentication data and the second portion of thestored fingerprint authentication data to make an authenticationdecision based on the fingerprint data.
 2. The earpiece of claim 1further comprising a gesture control interface operatively connected tothe processor, wherein the gesture control interface is configured toreceive gestures.
 3. The earpiece of claim 2 wherein the sensor is anoptical sensor and wherein the optical sensor is used by the gesturecontrol interface to receive the gestures and to sense the fingerprintdata.
 4. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an ultrasoundsensor.
 5. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to process audio data from the at least one microphone andwherein the authentication decision is based on the fingerprint data andthe audio data.
 6. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the processor isfurther configured to process pulse oximetry data from a pulse oximeterdisposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to theprocessor and wherein the authentication decision is based on thefingerprint data and the pulse oximetry data.
 7. A method forauthenticating a user of an earpiece comprising an earpiece housing, aprocessor disposed within the earpiece housing, a sensor operativelyconnected to the processor, at least one speaker operatively connectedto the processor, at least one microphone operatively connected to theprocessor, a data storage device disposed within the earpiece housingand operatively connected to the processor, and a radio transceiverdisposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to theprocessor, the method comprising: acquiring fingerprint data using thesensor from a finger of the user contacting a fingerprint contact areaon the earpiece housing; accessing a first portion of stored fingerprintauthentication data, the first portion of the stored fingerprintauthentication data stored on the data storage device; accessing asecond portion of the stored fingerprint authentication data from aremote location over a network and through the radio transceiver; andanalyzing the fingerprint data using the first portion of the storedfingerprint authentication data and the second portion of the storedfingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision basedon the fingerprint data.
 8. An earpiece for authenticating users usingstored fingerprint authentication data, the earpiece comprising: anearpiece housing; at least one speaker; at least one microphone; aprocessor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connectedto the at least one speaker and the at least one microphone; an opticalsensor operatively connected to the processor; a data storage devicedisposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to theprocessor, wherein a first portion of the stored fingerprintauthentication data is stored on the data storage device; and a radiotransceiver disposed within the earpiece housing and operativelyconnected to the processor, wherein a second portion of the storedfingerprint authentication data is stored at a remote location andaccessible over a network through the radio transceiver; wherein theprocessor is configured to receive fingerprint data from the opticalsensor at a fingerprint contact surface on the earpiece housing andanalyze the fingerprint data using the first portion of the storedfingerprint authentication data and the second portion of the storedfingerprint authentication data to make an authentication decision basedon the fingerprint data.